Music Man Dark Ray II Bass Guitar in Showtime

The Ernie Ball Music Man DarkRay II Bass in Showtime takes the original DarkRay concept and supercharges it with built-in octave up and octave down effects, alongside dual Darkglass distortion voices. It is a modern, aggressive, do-it-all bass that lets you move from tight, clean punch to colossal, synth-like soundscapes at the flick of a switch, all while retaining the familiar feel and rock-solid build quality of a classic Music Man instrument.

At its heart, the DarkRay II is still a powerful, single-humbucker, active bass with a fast roasted maple neck and a sleek, ergonomic ash body. But with the addition of the integrated octave engine, LED feedback, and the Alpha and Omega distortion circuits, it becomes a complete performance rig in one instrument. Whether you are covering bass and synth duties in a three-piece, or you need studio-ready tones without a pedalboard, this bass is designed to keep you in control.

The Showtime finish adds a bold, stage-ready aesthetic that pairs perfectly with the DarkRay II’s futuristic electronics. LED rings around the distortion and octave controls show you exactly what is engaged and which mode you are in, even on a dark stage. Combined with the intuitive three-way switch, you can confidently jump between core preamp tone, octave-only textures, or octave plus distortion for huge, harmonically rich sounds.

Under the hood, a custom Darkglass 2-band active preamp and a neodymium humbucker deliver massive output, clarity and punch. The familiar 34 inch scale, 22 stainless steel frets and comfortable 11 inch radius ebony fingerboard make the DarkRay II feel instantly playable, while the lightweight hardware and sculpted five-bolt neck joint keep things comfortable for long sets and demanding sessions.

Darkglass Distortion and Octave Engine

The DarkRay II’s onboard Darkglass preamp gives you two distinct distortion voices, Alpha and Omega, plus integrated octave up and down effects. With no extra pedals required, you can access everything from tight, gritty drive to filthy, synth-like sub and upper octave textures, all directly from the bass.

LED Feedback and Intuitive Control Layout

Dedicated LED rings around the distortion and octave controls illuminate when each effect is active and change colour to indicate the selected mode. Combined with the three-way lever switch for core tone, octave only, or octave plus distortion, you always know exactly what your sound is doing, even on dark stages.

Classic Music Man Feel with Modern Playability

An ash body, roasted maple neck and ebony fingerboard deliver a familiar, responsive feel with plenty of snap and definition. The 34 inch scale, 11 inch radius and 22 stainless steel frets provide smooth playability and long-term durability, ideal for touring, recording and everyday practice.

Showtime Finish and Stage-ready Hardware

The Showtime finish gives the DarkRay II a striking, contemporary look that stands out under stage lights. A black pickguard, black plated vintage-style bridge and lightweight Music Man tuners complete the aesthetic while ensuring tuning stability and reliable performance night after night.

• Integrated Octave Up and Down Effects - Built-in octave processing lets you choose octave up or octave down via a push/push control, opening up synth-like sub bass, organ-style upper textures and layered tones without needing external pedals.
• Dual Darkglass Alpha and Omega Distortions - The custom Darkglass preamp offers two distinct distortion circuits, selectable via the gain control’s push function, so you can move from tight, articulate drive to huge, saturated grind tailored to modern rock and metal.
• LED-Equipped Controls and Three-way Switching - LED rings around the distortion and octave knobs show when effects are active and which mode is selected, while the three-way lever switch lets you quickly choose between preamp only, preamp plus octave, or preamp plus octave plus distortion.
• Premium Tonewoods and Hardware - An ash body, roasted maple neck, ebony fingerboard and stainless steel frets combine with a black plated vintage Music Man bridge and lightweight tuners to deliver punchy tone, smooth playability and long-lasting reliability.

Body

• Model: DarkRay II Bass
• Body Wood: Ash
• Body Finish: High gloss polyester
• Colour: Showtime
• Body Size: 13-1/2" wide, 1-5/8" thick, 44-7/8" long (34.3 cm wide, 4.1 cm thick, 114.0 cm long)
• Pickguard: Black

Neck

• Neck Wood: Roasted maple
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Neck Finish: Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
• Neck Radius: 11" (27.9 cm)
• Scale Length: 34" (86.4 cm)
• Frets: 22 stainless steel
• Neck Width: 1-11/16" (42.86 mm) at nut
• Neck Width at Last Fret: 2-1/2" (63.5 mm)
• Headstock Size: 8-3/4" (22.2 cm) long
• Fret Markers: White dot inlays
• Side Markers: White dot
• Neck Attachment: 5 bolt, sculpted neck joint
• Neck Colour: Natural

Hardware

• Bridge: Vintage Music Man top loaded black plated steel bridge plate with vintage black plated steel saddles
• Tuning Machines: Custom Music Man, lightweight with tapered string posts and ergonomic clover design
• Electronic Shielding: Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and black plated aluminium control cover

Electronics

• Preamp: Custom Darkglass 2-band active preamp
• EQ: Bass, treble
• Controls: Volume, gain (push to toggle Alpha/Omega), octave (push to toggle octave up/down), treble, bass
• Switching: 3-way lever switch; Preamp Only, Preamp + Octave, Preamp + Octave + Distortion
• Pickups: Single humbucking with neodymium magnets
• Effects: Octave up and octave down, Alpha and Omega DarkRay distortions
• Indicator Lights: LED rings on distortion and octave controls

Miscellaneous

• Strings: 45w-65w-80w-100w (Super Slinky Bass #2834)
• Factory Tuning: Standard
• Included Case: Mono Softshell
• Power: Ernie Ball rechargeable lithium ion batteries
• Country of Origin: USA